Lucky are the inhabitants of Russia who managed to capture the pillars of light in the sky. Like a show of warm lights, the sky lit up with a little-known natural phenomenon, but possible to experience on Earth. It seems that natural phenomena during winter become more and more spectacular and we want to know more about them.
What are the pillars of light?
This luminescent phenomenon is a natural optical illusion that occurs more frequently in northern latitudes. However, this does not happen all year round, only in winter is when the weather conditions are met to produce this light show.
The are these vertical lines, very similar to the northern lights, that emerge brightly from the horizon into the sky. They can be seen in different colors depending on the reflection of light.
Image: Bav Media
How are lights formed in the sky?
These lights are created thanks to the reflection of light coming from various frozen ice crystals that lie in the cloud(s). If the light that powers the reflection is solar, then it is known as a solar pillar.
However, light can also come from the moon or other artificial light sources, such as the lights in our houses or the street. Due to the interaction that is generated between light and ice crystals, a light phenomenon is formed that is usually projected up or down, creating a vertical line.
Pillars of light in Russia
In a perfect combination created by atmosphere and light, the inhabitants of the city of Tyumen in Russia had the opportunity to observe the warm lights of this phenomenon. Although it is a studied phenomenon, the reality is that it does not happen frequently, but when we look at them we understand their amorphous magic.